NHTSA Complaint #10216377 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I BOUGHT MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER USED IN 2005 WITH ABOUT 60,000 MILES ON IT. IN 6 MONTHS THE ENTIRE CAR WOULD SHAKE IF I WENT ABOVE 50 MILES PER HOUR. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT THE CAR SHIFT EXTREMELY HARD. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND WAS TOLD THAT 3RD GEAR WAS ALREADY GONE AND THAT I WAS GOING TO SOON LOSE 2ND AND SO ON. I HAD TO SPEND $2000 ON A REBUILT TRANSMISSION. HOWEVER, ALMOST 2 1/2 YEARS LATER THIS REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS FAILING AGAIN. THIS TIME THE OD LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK; I HAD A GARAGE GET THE CODE IMMEDIATELY. IT SAID THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. I HAD THEM LOOK AT THE TRANSMISSION CLOSER AND THEY FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNT AND THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS IN IT. THE TRANSMISSION IS FRIED AGAIN, AND IT WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3200 TO FIX IT THIS TIME. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN BECAUSE THESE PROBLEMS OFTEN COME WITH NO WARNING. BOTH INCIDENTS I WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT IN THE SEALED TRANSMISSIONS PUT IN THE 2002 EXPLORERS!!! *CN